Emoticons for traffic time
I'll never forget riding in the car with my friend and scrambling to find a paper and pen in time to make a "You're insane" sign and hold it up to the window as the woman behind us spent 30 minutes swerving to pass us.
The situation would've been so much more enjoyable had we had the Drive-e-mocion at our disposal.
This handy little gadget, which we spotted on PC Magazine is a round electronic display that sticks to your back window, helping you, the driver, express your standard traffic-time emotions of anger and gratitude.
It can convey the messages "thank you" and "back off." It can also flash a smiley face or a frown for those all-too-frequent situations when a simple look says it all.
The product is made up of lights that illuminate behind a flat panel and appear to be similar to the LED spotlights that the London based-maker AU-MY, uses in some of its other products, such as mood lighting for the home.
The look of the gadget is a little primitive. It's composed entirely of little red lights, giving it the appearance of a cool-looking old-school Lite Brite.
Another bonus is the fact that it can be controlled from the front seat by a battery-powered remote, meaning no wires hanging over the middle seats.
The product's Web page says it offers single and multiple message options. We envision being able to add a frown to your "back off" message for added emphasis. Or perhaps you could follow your "thank you" with a smiley face for when the person who let you through just so happens to be the most handsome thing behind the wheel you've seen all day.
The company is currently revamping the product which is out of stock until the new model arrives later this year.
Until then, we advise keeping a pen and paper handy while driving--just in case.